Teachers

Angela Tarleton - known to all as Miss Angela - has over 30 years of experience. On a College and Conservatory level, she has worked in every medium of the performing arts. She understands the performance process from stretching to warm up the body to the bows at the end of a performance. Being equally actress, dancer, singer, choreographer, director, playwright and musician (also an accomplished flutist) she fits into any mold needed. She has taught acting to dancers and dance to actors, and works well with directors, musical directors, as well as the technical crew. She has designed lighting and costumes for many dance concerts. She is a “Renaissance Woman” in her own right. When teaching, directing or choreographing she maintains a strong focus of activity, creating a sense of unity and purpos that “gets the job done”! As an original visionary and founder of Christ Arts Institute, Inc. she kept the “vision alive” with her innovative ideas and dedication to excellence in training and performance, and she continues to do the same here in New Hampshire with Kearsarge Conservatory of the Performing Arts! Angela Tarleton has written a Fully Graded System of Ballet Curriculum with accompanying music arranged by Kim Nichols and Angela Tarleton. A graded system simply means…

Since 1973 Mr. Tarleton - known as Mr. Kevin - has Acted, directed, written and even technical directed hundreds of productions ranging from the classics to modern, contemporary, and original works in both the dramatic and musical venues; from professional to community theatre, film and television. Mr. Tarleton also founded a conservatory of the performing arts: Christ Arts Institute, Inc. (a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation); Which now operates as Kearsarge Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Warner, New Hampshire. Over the last 10 years he produced a children’s theatre, Saltbox Players, out of the conservatory which performed both original and traditional scripts with original music. When not performing or directing, Mr. Tarleton was at times working in stagecraft and design, building sets for some of the first “Barney” videos starring Sandy Duncan; building production sets for Cornerstone Insurance’s annual gala at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas; or stage managing The Promise, a live passion play in Glenrose, TX. seating 3500 audience members in a outdoor amphitheater designed by Peter Wolfe and Associates. A renaissance man in many ways, Mr Tarleton is also a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild.

Michelle Gosnell is a Texas transplant to the New Hampshire Area. She has a Bachelor of Music with a specialization in vocal performance from Texas Tech University. In Addition, Mrs. Gosnell had the opportunity to work with Marshal Williamson who recently retired from Julliard after 36 years. Michelle is a coloratura soprano, and during her first session Mr. Williamson said, “My dear, you have a rare gift and there a very few of you left in this world; you must practice much and sing often.” She also had the opportunity to study with Edwardo Brown, Opera Director, of the Fort Worth Symphony. While in Texas she had extensive experience with a professional acting troop call the Salt Box Players who traveled throughout the DFW Metroplex performing Children’s Theatre in both Public and Private Schools. Mrs. Gosnell is currently teaching Musical Theatre at Kearsarge Conservatory of the Performing Arts (KCPA) in Warner, NH and has a full schedule instructing private voice and piano to students both home schooled and public schooled students. She says, “My goal in working with a voice student is to first recognize the natural range of the voice and then work closely with the student to choose…

Melissa Gendreau began performing at an early age in theater, music and later dance. Professionally, Melissa studied at the Dean College School of Dance, where she received her Baccalaureate Degree in Dance with a minor in business. In 2015, Melissa graduated from Drexel University with a Masters Degree in Arts Administration. Post-graduation, Melissa spent 2 years performing in the Boston area with various dance companies, while starting her own company, Perceptions Dance. In 2009, Melissa moved to New York City to develop the company, which transformed from just a performance company to performance, education and presenting. The company has toured across the country, from Cape Cod, MA to San Francisco, CA, on such prestigious stages as the Joyce SoHo, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Dumbo Dance Festival, CoolNY, White Wave Festival, Boston University, the Davies Symphony Hall and many more. In 2011, the company was selected to perform at the prestigious 8th annual Fashion on the Square in San Francisco – a benefit for the San Francisco Arts Commission. In 2010, Melissa founded the Perceptions Dance Festival in NYC, which is dedicated to creating high-quality performance opportunities for emerging and small dance companies and independent choreographers. The Festival has presented more than…

Kristi Upton has over 20 years of dance experience. She studied ballet, tap, and jazz at the Fanton Dance Studio in New Fairfield, C T for 15 years. She was an assistant teacher there in ballet and tap for two years. Further ballet instruction was obtained at the University of Maine and Harrison School of Dance in New London . Kristi has also attended workshops in Irish and modern dance. She has been teaching at KCPA for the past five years and has become a beloved member of the Performance Company as well as the Staff. She has been carefully and thoroughly trained by Director Angela Tarleton and is now the Pointe Technique Instructor. KCPA is blessed to have her as an excellent Instructor!

Instructor Private: Guitar, Ukulele and Bass. Brannon Cook has been a vocal student of Michelle Gosnell, Director of Music, KCPA where he also is an instructor of music for guitar, bass guitar and ukulele. Brannon is an accomplished musician/song writer. Before moving to New Hampshire from Texas, he was in a band called, “The Great Line” and has been involved in all areas of music production, both on stage and behind the scenes, including sound engineering and recording.

Vincant "Mr. Cheti" Davis Mr. Cheti comes to us from our long lineage of students. He first joined Miss Angela and Mr. Kevin at the age of 4 in Fort Worth, Texas. He began his studies and was cast in his first production at age 5. Professionally he has had the opportunity to perform as well as study with the best in the industry. He shares our passion to allow anyone who has the desire to learn an opportunity to do so! He has danced professionally with Ballet Concerto, the now known company The Texas Ballet Company, The Houston Ballet as well as guest spots with some of the worlds leading companies. He is also accomplished in vocal performance and live theater as well. He has performed both nationally and internationally in musical and non musical theater productions and it is an honor to have him join KCPA.